It’s November, and stories of player interest and potential moves are being spouted by people called Alan and Peter. The statement of entitlement goes something like this: “We know what we are talking about,” despite being wholly inaccurate so many times during a transfer window. One in four reports gathers momentum.

But the nightmare continues.

⚽️ Context: We read last week on the sports outlet A Bola that Sporting Lisbon were potentially preparing to sack their head coach. We have had links with the outlet for the last three years, dating back to when Gonçalo Franco was first rumoured to be coming to Swansea. Ronald as well. Reading the desperate copy-and-paste reporting from outlets here in Wales and, in some cases, elsewhere, we did what we always do. We researched, spoke to our contacts and used our system for scrutinising and grading information. No other outlet did this, and, when we spoke to our contact at A Bola, they were aware of the Welsh media’s cut-and-paste efforts when repeating their report.

Put quite simply, following our conversations with our contact, and as A Bola reported, Rui Borges is clearing his desk at Sporting Lisbon. B-team coach Tiago Fernandes is already overseeing things and will take charge of Sporting for their Champions League encounter against Shakhtar Donetsk this week. No real news there, but we were keen to establish the substance behind the reported link with Swans head coach Vítor Matos and the interest in his services in Portugal.

⚽️ Information : The situation is that interim head coach Tiago Fernandes, president Frederico Varandas and club recruiter Bernardo Palmeiro will be in London in a few hours. The game against Shakhtar will be played at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, tomorrow evening. We have been told that Paulo Fonseca, who has handed in his resignation at Lyon in France, will meet with the trio tomorrow to finalise his position at Sporting.

⚽️ The formality : As for Vítor Matos, we now know he does have his admirers. However, his name was added to A Bola’s list of contenders last week because he is a man in the news and someone whom many club presidents and recruitment departments are monitoring. That goes without saying, and our own enquiries point to a head coach who has also attracted interest in the UK. However, Matos has made it very clear that, for now, his immediate goal is to take Swansea City to the best possible position in the Championship this season. He will have his suitors, but that is always the case with Swansea City.

Matos having his name included did make us chuckle, it wasn’t realistic but it does show how well he has done this season. But it’s always best to speak to people who know.

⚽️ The track record : Over the years, we have gradually strengthened our relationships, as demonstrated by the many reports and pieces of information that have come to fruition over time. Our news search engine is always available, allowing you to search for any keyword or name. It’s a great leveller for us and helps substantiate our reporting.

⚽️ The Indy Front Pages
You can keyword search on thousands of Swansea City reports and make your own mind up.

Photographs as per disclaimer